Laws prohibiting driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in New Hampshire and other states are based on research indicating that a person’s ability to drive a motor vehicle safely decreases as their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases. The “per se” BAC limit in New Hampshire is 0.08 percent, but even if a driver’s BAC is lower than this, he or she may be arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, or when one’s ability is impaired (DWI).
How does driving ability decrease as BAC increases? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers an overview:
- 0.02 percent. Some decrease in ability to track moving objects and to multitask, a key skill when driving.
- 0.05 percent. The ability to coordinate movements, especially in emergency situations that require quick thinking, goes down. Decreased ability to steer a vehicle properly.
- 0.08 percent. Coordination, short-term memory, perception, and ability to process things the driver sees, hears, or feels are all impaired. This is currently the “legal limit” for BAC in all fifty U.S. states.
- 0.10 to 0.15 percent. The ability to keep the car on the road, brake properly in response to traffic signals, turns, or things in the road ahead, and the ability to process information are all significantly impaired.
If you or someone you care about has been charged with drunk driving in New Hampshire, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced NH DUI defense lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We will build you a strong defense that protects your legal rights and fights for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700.
The financial costs of a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in New Hampshire and other states is steep. Fines, restitution, counseling or NH impaired driver intervention fees, license reinstatement fees, impound fees, and fees for having an ignition interlock device installed on a vehicle are all possible costs after a DUI conviction or arrest, and they can add up quickly.
DUI convictions also burden society with monetary costs, especially if a driver is sent to jail or is arrested following an accident. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that a car accident in which at least one person is arrested on suspicion of DUI costs, on average, $49,000. Some of this expense reflects the costs of sending police officers out and of court and administrative actions, but some of it is borne directly by the person who has been charged with or convicted of DUI.
Being charged with or convicted of drunk driving also pushes insurance rates up. The NHTSA estimates that 18 percent of the total amount U.S. drivers pay for car insurance each year, or $234,000,000, is the result of increased insurance rates after a DUI arrest or conviction. New Hampshire drivers convicted of DUI must also obtain an SR-22 certificate of insurance in some situations, adding additional insurance costs.
Being convicted of New Hampshire drunk driving isn’t cheap, either in financial costs or costs to your freedom. At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced New Hampshire drunk driving defense attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of each client we serve, while fighting for the best possible outcome in each case. For a confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (603) 624-3700.
Let’s face it: nobody wants to be the party-ruining “nag” who reminds everyone not to drive or to accept a ride from anyone who isn’t sober. But when you invite friends, family, and other loved ones over for a party, your actions can mean the difference between one of the people you care about staying safe, or facing charges for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
If you’re throwing a party, here are just a few of the steps you can take to help your partygoers avoid a drunk driving charge in New Hampshire:
- Don’t let friends drive drunk. If you suspect a visitor cannot safely drive, take his or her keys away. You may want to set up a central “key depository,” such as a bowl by the front door, for everyone to put their car keys in as they arrive. Don’t give the keys back unless you’re convinced the person can safely drive or you know the person is going home with a sober driver.
- Designate drivers beforehand. Remind guests to pick a sober “designated driver” or another way to get home that doesn’t require them to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. Keep the numbers of local cab companies or other transportation handy in case a guest needs a safe ride home.
- Provide non-alcoholic drinks and activities. Throw a party that’s fun to attend whether your guests decide to drink or not. Providing plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, food, and entertainment takes the pressure off to drink – or to drink too much – and allows your guests to have a great time and still make it home sober.
- Provide a place to crash. If you can, give guests who have been drinking the option to spend the night instead of trying to drive.
At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced Manchester drunk driving defense lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of those who are charged with drunk driving in New Hampshire. To learn more about your legal rights and options after a DUI arrest, call us today at (603) 624-3700. The initial telephone consultation is free and completely confidential.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is offering a media kit to help local and state law enforcement offices nationwide publicize increased efforts to identify and arrest possible drunk drivers during the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. Known as the “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” campaign, the messages encouraging smart driving – and the increased police presence that accompanies them – began January 2, 2012 and will run until February 6, 2012, the day after the Super Bowl.
The purpose of the campaign, according to the NHTSA, is to remind people enjoying the playoffs and the Super Bowl to make smart choices about combining alcohol with their celebrations. It’s fun to have a beer or two while watching the games, but the NHTSA recommends choosing a designated driver before you do – or choosing a way home that doesn’t involve driving, like taking a cab, public transportation, or walking. Alternately, football fans may choose to host a party or two in their homes.
Plans for increased police presences vary by state. In New Hampshire, state and local patrols may include more officers on more shifts, as well as the use of NH sobriety checkpoints. An arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in New Hampshire can have serious consequences, such as a suspended license and other penalties. A conviction carries even stiffer penalties.
If you’re facing drunk driving charges in New Hampshire, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced New Hampshire DUI defense attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We will examine your case carefully and build an aggressive defense that fights for the best possible outcome on your behalf. For a free and confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (603) 624-3700.
Every state, including New Hampshire, has an “implied consent” law that prescribes penalties for drivers who refuse to consent to a chemical test of their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Penalties range from suspended licenses to fines. However, in many states, including New Hampshire, some drivers refuse to consent to a BAC test despite the consequences – a situation that worries law enforcement officers and prosecutors who have to work harder to get a conviction when no “hard numbers” are available, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In a 2005 study conducted by the NHTSA, the average rate of refusal in 37 states studied was 22.7 percent. In other words, nearly one-fourth of drivers asked to submit to a BAC test refused. New Hampshire had by far the highest rate of refusal of the states studied, with 81 percent of drivers arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) refusing to take a BAC test between 2001 and 2005.
Various states have come up with different methods for combating the refusal of drivers to submit to a BAC test. For instance, some states have set up a system for providing warrants so that law enforcement officials can take a blood draw. Others, including Montana, are considering systems in which a warrant can be telephoned in if the driver has a previous conviction for DUI.
If you’re facing a drunk driving charge, the experienced New Hampshire DUI defense lawyers with Tenn and Tenn, P.A. can help you fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For more information, call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free and confidential telephone consultation.
Between December 20, 2011 and New Year’s Day, sobriety checkpoints in New Hampshire set up by law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of 24 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), according to a news report from New England Cable News (NECN).
In addition, police arrested 11 people on suspicion of driving on suspended licenses and 45 arrests on suspicion of other criminal activities between Christmas and New Year’s. Police increased their visibility, including using sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and a media campaign, to encourage people not to drink and drive or to do other things that might be criminal during the holiday season.
New Hampshire law requires law enforcement agencies to get a court’s approval before setting up a sobriety checkpoint. Despite this requirement, New Hampshire police in various areas set up multiple checkpoints throughout the year. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) encourages the use of sobriety checkpoints, but only in conjunction with a broader policy that uses media awareness, moving patrols, and other methods to screen drivers for possible alcohol use and tries to gather as much information as possible before making the decision to arrest.
Sobriety checkpoints are just one way a person may be arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in New Hampshire. If you’re facing DUI charges, the experienced Manchester DWI defense attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. Call us today at (603) 624-3700 to learn more about your legal rights and options. The initial telephone consultation is free and confidential.
New Hampshire law prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI). The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers is 0.08 percent, and 0.02 percent for those under the age of 21. Additional factors in a case, however, may lead to a charge of “aggravated” DUI in NH, which comes with stiffer penalties if a person is convicted.
A New Hampshire driver may face an aggravated DUI charge if it appears that any of the following conditions may have existed in his or her case:
Speeding. Driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit may lead to an aggravated DUI charge.
Accident with injuries. Getting into an accident that seriously injures the driver or another person may be grounds for an aggravated DUI charge.
Attempting to avoid police pursuit. Turning off the headlights, speeding, or leaving the vehicle may all lead to an aggravated DUI charge if it looks like the driver was trying to avoid police by doing any of these things.
Driving with a child in the car. If a child under the age of 16 is a passenger in the vehicle, a DUI charge may be increased to an aggravated DUI charge.
Having a BAC of 0.16 or higher. If a breath test or blood test comes back with a BAC result of 0.16 percent or higher, an aggravated DUI charge might result.
A conviction for aggravated DUI comes with stiff penalties, including mandatory jail time. If you or someone you love has been charged with a DUI or an aggravated DUI, the experienced New Hampshire DUI defense lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. Call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free and confidential consultation by telephone.
New Hampshire law requires some people who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicles. The device requires the driver to give a breath sample before starting the car and at random intervals while driving. If the sample tests positive for alcohol, the car will not start or will not keep running. But how reliable are these devices at measuring whether a driver has been drinking?
According to the U.S. National highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ignition interlock devices should accurately detect a driver’s blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, 90 percent of the time. This means that under ideal conditions, your ignition interlock device will accurately measure and record your BAC – or lack thereof – every 9 out of 10 times you blow into it.
Several different conditions can cause the device to get its measurements wrong, however. If your breath sample is too small, for instance, the machine may not be able to get an accurate reading. Likewise, if you have used mouthwash or medication containing alcohol, the machine might detect this on your breath and refuse to start. Waiting 15 to 20 minutes after using these products before starting your car will allow any alcohol in your mouth to dissipate, increasing the chances of an accurate reading.
Being required to use an ignition interlock device is just one of the possible penalties that follow a DUI conviction. At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced New Hampshire drunk driving defense attorneys have the legal resources and courtroom experience to build an aggressive defense that fights for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (603) 624-3700.
Counseling for alcohol or drug abuse is part of a sentence given to drivers who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (DUI) in New Hampshire. Drivers must meet this counseling requirement on top of other requirements that may include jail, fines, community service, and other penalties – and drivers are expected to pay the costs of counseling out of their own pockets.
Currently, drivers convicted of DUI for the first time in New Hampshire can choose between two programs: the Impaired Driver Intervention Program (IDIP), which is taught in the evenings, or the Weekend Impaired Driver Intervention Program (WIDIP), which is taught over a weekend. IDIP participants go about their daily lives between evening classes; WIDIP participants stay in-house for the entire program.
Both programs involve an intake interview, at least 20 hours of alcohol and drug education classes, a one-hour final assessment, and continuing care recommendations, which might include further therapy or counseling. Drivers are expected to follow up on the continuing care even after the initial program is over. The costs for both the IDIP and WIDIP may change without notice, but as of December 2011, the IDIP cost $460 and the WIDIP cost $585, including room and board.
When you think of the possible penalties for being convicted of DUI, most New Hampshire drivers can easily name a fine. But a fine is just one of the dollar amounts a driver facing a DUI conviction will have to pay. At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced NH DUI attorneys are committed to fighting for the rights of those charged with drunk driving. We will build an aggressive defense that fights for the best possible outcome in your case and protects your legal rights. For a telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700. The call is free, and any information you share with us is confidential.
The number of citations and arrests New Hampshire police made over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend wasn’t unusual for this time of year, according to a recent article in the Nashua Telegraph. This year, however, nobody lost their lives in an auto accident over the holiday, continuing New Hampshire’s trend toward making 2011 the safest road travel year the state has yet seen.
Police stopped a total of 3,651 vehicles on New Hampshire roads from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. About 840 of these stops resulted in tickets for speeding. A total of 34 stops, or about 1 percent of the total, resulted in arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). This number is slightly lower than the New Hampshire average of 8 DUI arrests per day.
According to the New Hampshire State Police, publicizing their increased enforcement efforts over Thanksgiving and encouraging other drivers to call police if they see suspicious or dangerous driving behavior has contributed to the decrease in both arrests on suspicion of DUI and traffic accident deaths. Police say drivers are more likely to think twice before getting behind the wheel if they’ve had alcohol, and drivers also drive more carefully if they know police are out in force or sobriety checkpoints have been set up.
Being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving can have serious consequences. If you’ve been charged with a DUI in New Hampshire, the experienced New Hampshire drunk driving attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you fight to protect your rights and seek the best possible outcome in your case. For more information, call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free and confidential phone consultation.
